Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-01-04
Gales and Sketehes.
LOST in THE FIRE.

burning up,' groaned Mr. Lord turning
impatiently on his pillow.
"But YOU are insured said his wife
with a pale face. "you will not lose every
thing"
1T isn't the office care for" answered
Mr. Lord, but "a package Of papers. very
valuable, intrusted to my care" aud he
groaned again.
But won't the safe protect them''
cried Mrs. Lord eagerly.
That's the worst OF it," said Mr.. Lord
in voice husky with emotion. They
should be in the safe, but in nv half-daZed
state On the day was taken i'll, neglect
ed TO put them there; they are in my
de-k, and the only comfort | have bad
since could hink was that it has "A good
lock. and had the key-but nowi"
Are they so valuable, them"
so precious that if they are burned
shall be disgraced: il will be dishonor if
| am unable to produce them. 1t is un-
pardonable tina: should not have secured
Them; it will kill me, ! feel that it will!
Oh, if coil only move! or Herbert were
here"
Can do anything" eagerly asked his
wife
/ No indeed! From what Mr. Brown
tells me the streets are Fl led with a MOB :;
no lady would be safe in them for an in
stant. She would be robbed, if not worse
! Herbert might perhaps find way to get
/ them. and to save his fathers honor. if
not also his lite. I'm sure he would o,
how can live ard let them burnt
! Listening breathlesSly with white face
TO this talk stood Grace Lord. who was
just entering the room when her father
spoke. A thought had crossed her mind
ard a plan had grown in these few
seconds.
why can't save those papers?' was
the thought, and ~ will" was the conclu-
sion, as her father ended.
Softly turning away from the open
door. she stole up stairs to her room.
Il can % as well as Bert" she whis-
pered to herself II know where papa
keep, his keys. and know just where
his desk is in the office, | can run down
there before mamma misses me, and how
happy papa will be. He said the streets
were not safe WAS The next thought,
but he said boy could 90. III put on
Bert's clothes" flashed into her mind
Without stopping to think more about
IL, SUP ran iHlt lIti blblitti = lbtiils lttiih
an out-grown suit in his closet. slipped of
her outer garments. and put on these
snaichpd "A last years hat from the shelf
ard waiting to get her fathers keys ou
OF pocket in his clothes which hung in q
hall closet. she opened the street door
ard was gone II was noble aud
generous impulse but it was fearful
thing 10 do.
This happened in Chicago, during The
terrible fire that burned that city thirteen
years ago. 1t was early on Monday
morning: the South Side was already i
roaring furnace. and the North Side. il
which my story lies, was even then CT
fire
| W hen Grace turned the corner into 8
much used street she was appalled,, and
for an instant turned back. 1t was filleC
with crowd Of people hurrying by, will
fear, ho rror. and other strange passions
in THEN faces. Some were loaded witt
household goods or treasures they hopeC
to save, others carving screaming
babies. or dragging children too trighteutc
to run, and now and then two or three
holding between them one TOO i'll to stand
1t was terrible sight, a whole city flying
Tor life and girl alone, however brave
might well be alarmed.
IL was only tor moment. however
Grace thought OF her father and plunget
into the street The Office was not more
than half mile. and her feet fairly flew
although every body Else was going the
other way. a d she had TO dodge between
people and horses and loads of all sorts
1t was well she had not far to go, fo
I ,ba ,uas inst h,rs,ipcv ipto fanac u
she opened the door with her fathers KEYS
His desk easily yielded to the pecula
KEY she knew 40 well, and among letter
and papers laid package she instructive
" knew was the precious one, so care
fully tied and sealed, so out OF place
looked there.
Grace seized it, and started out, care
fully locking the desk and putting III
KEYS in her pocket, when the though
arose "Where could she hide the pack
age?"
You boys would say in the inner breas
pocket of the vest. But there was n
vest. at any rate Grace had none, ant
inner pockets were an unknown mvster
to her She thought an instant, the
quietly slipped it down tie back OF he
neck inside the clothes. The wastbsn,
was tight for her. and she felt sure it wa
: safe, and hastily ran into the street.
Things had changed greatly even il
these few minutes. The tall blocks OF
both sides of the street were on fire. bi!
building at the corner had fallen and Gu
off her return that way. while the air wa
tull of smoke and elders and heat tina
nearly suffocated her. Instead OF the crow,
she had seen. it was deserted, every on
had fled for his lite. Smothered, blinded
frightened, Grace turned to run-alas
away from home.
1t was the only way she could go. A
the first corner. she found herself no longe
aloue but one small atom OF moving
mass of people. To turn the other wa,
would have been like trying to stem {
furious rushing river. and besides, thai
way was thick smoke and fire. She was
carried with the crowd. bewildered, lost
but even in that awful moment filled with
joy that she had her fathers papers.
The fire marched on with rapid strides
driving before it the multitude of home
less wanderers. among them our pool
Grace To the lake shore they went, and
as the hot breath of the flames followed
them even, into the water far out as they
n 4 Al